Odometer

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to an odometer in which a resilient reset plate movable with the shaft is provided between each pair of figure wheels besides a transfer pinion carrier plate, the tip of said reset plate is adapted to engage with the projection formed on the side of the figure wheel adjacent the figure wheel of lower denomination and said transfer pinion is pivoted on the peripheral depression of the carrier plate and is held from undesirable rotation by a spring engaging the teeth of said pinion.

iJnited States Patent lnoue 1 Sept. 4, 1973 1 ODOMETER 3,441,210 4/1969 Moore et al 235/144 SM [76] Inventor: Shiro lnoue, 26-2-2 chome,

Kashiwaza, Saitama Prefecture Primary Exammer-Stephen J. Tomsky Ageo City Japan 362 Att0rneyCharles E. Temko [22] F1led: Apr. 13, 1972 [57] ABSTRACT [21] PP 2432580 This invention relates to an odometer in which a resilient reset plate movable with the shaft is provided he 52 s Cl". 235 95 R, 235 14 SM 235/144 DM tween each pair of figure wheels besides a transfer pin- 51 111:. c1. G06c 15/42, GOlC 22/00 ieh carrier Plate, the p of Said reset Plate is adapted [58] Field of Search 235/95 R, 144 SP, to engage with the projection formed on the Side of the 235/144 SM 1444 DM 144 PM 1 C 139 R figure wheel adjacent the figure wheel of lower denomination and said transfer pinion is pivoted on the pe- 5 References Cited ripheral depression of the carrier plate and is held from UNITED STATES PATENTS undesirable rotation by a spring engaging the teeth of 1,654,441 12/1927 Wemecke 235/144 SM Sal plmon 1,824,781 9/1931 La Bar 235/144 DM 1 Claim, 6 Drawing Figures ODOMETER This invention relates to counting mechanism and has been designed as an improvement in the odometer such as usually associated with the speedometer of a motor vehicle.

The principal object is to improve the structure of the odometer so as to simplify the manufacture and save labor costs.

Further object is to improve the resetting mechanism by providing a separate reset plate adjacent transfer pinion carrier plate between each pair of figure wheels so as to strengthen the structure as well facilitate the function.

This invention will be understood from the following description.

In the drawings, numeral 1 is an odometer shaft on which wheels 2' and 2 are rotatively supported. Each wheel is peripherally marked with figures. The wheel 2' is rotated by suitable gearing. The details are not shown, being old and well known.

On the side of each wheel adjacent the wheel of lower denomination is a series of internal teeth 7. The side of each wheel adjacent the wheel of higher denomination has a pair of internal teeth 6. Between each pair of adjacent wheels are a carrier plate 3 for supporting a transfer pinion 4 and a reset plate 5. The pinion 4 is mounted on a pivot fixed to the peripheral depressed portion 12 of the plate 3. The teeth of the pinion 4 are in engagement with teeth 7 on one side and are adapted to engage teeth 6 at times on the other side. To preventundesired rotation of the pinion 4, a spring 11 is attached to the plate 3 with its curved end in engagement with teeth of said pinion as shown in FIG. 5 or a U-shaped spring 11' is attached to the plate 3 with both curved ends in engagement with teeth of the pinion as shown in FIG. 6.

The plate 3 is held from rotation in any preferred way as by means of a slotted arms 13, the slots to engage some convenient part of the instrument with which the odometer is used. For the purpose of quick resetting the shaft 1 has a longitudinal notch l. The central opening of each reset plate 5 surrounding the shaft is provided with an internally extended lug 5 adapted to engage with notch l. The reset plate 5 is resilient and has a cut-out portion 9 at the periphery. Said cut-out portion is somewhat bent so that its free end or tip 9' is always in contact with the surface of the side of each wheel adjacent to the wheel of lower denomination. That side is provided with a small bent up tab or projection 8 adapted to be engaged with the free end 9 of the reset plate 9 when the same is rotated clockwise as seen in FIG. 4 during a resetting operation. In normal forward counting, in which the tab 8 moves in a clockwise direction as seen in FIG. 3, it is adapted to cam the tip 9' out of its path to pass freely thereunder.

To reset the odometer, as usually a reset stem (not shown) is reciprocated inwardly and the rotation of said stem by finger tips may rotate the shaft 1 together with the reset plates 5. During the rotation of the reset plates, the shaft 1 is shifted rightwardly as seenin FIG. 1 to disconnect the normal drive mechanism, and with axial rotation thereof, each tip 9 engages with the projection 8 so that each of the wheels may be picked up and rotated in the course of one complete rotation of the shaft. A continued rotation of the shaft aligns the figures on all the wheels as they rotate together because the position of each wheel is similarly located relative to the figures.

As is clear from the above, a transfer pinion much simpler in form than the hitherto known types, is pivoted on the depressed portion of the carrier plate and is held from undesirable rotation by a spring. And, resilient reset plate cooperating with the projection formed on the side of wheel is provided adjacent the carrier plate whereas in the hitherto known type, a small pawl adapted to engage with a longitudinal notch of the shaft is attached to one side of the wheel.

The smaller the diameter of wheel is, the more laborsome and difficult to attach the small pawl and further such a pawl is liable to damage.

I claim:

1. Odometer construction comprising: first and second figure wheels, a transfer pinion positioned between said first and second figure wheels, said second figure wheel having teeth engaging said transfer pinion, said first figure wheel having a pair of teeth on the periphery thereof postioned to engage the transfer pinion upon rotation of the first figure wheel through a complete revolution; a carrier plate mounting said transfer pinion, a manually adjustable shaft extending through said figure wheels and said transfer plate, and a reset plate carried by said shaft and positioned adjacent said carrier plate; said reset plate having a resilient tip urged into contact with a side surface of said second figure wheel, said second figure wheel having a projection upon said last mentioned surface lying in the path of movement of said tip. Said tip being oriented to selectively engaged said projection when said shaft is manually rotated in a first given direction, movement of said second figure wheel in the same direction serving to cam said tip away from said last mentioned surface to permit said projection to pass therebeneath.

* III l It i 

1. Odometer construction comprising: first and second figure wheels, a transfer pinion positioned between said first and second figure wheels, said second figure wheel having teeth engaging said transfer pinion, said first figure wheel having a pair of teeth on the periphery thereof postioned to engage the transfer pinion upon rotation of the first figure wheel through a complete revolution; a carrier plate mounting said transfer pinion, a manually adjustable shaft extending through said figure wheels and said transfer plate, and a reset plate carried by said shaft and positioned adjacent said carrier plate; said reset plate having a resilient tip urged into contact with a side surface of said second figure wheel, said second figure wheel having a projection upon said last mentioned surface lying in the path of movement of said tip. Said tip being oriented to selectively engaged said projection when said shaft is manually rotated in a first given direction, movement of said second figure wheel in the same direction serving to cam said tip away from said last mentioned surface to permit said projection to pass therebeneath. 